Gary Mickelson, director of media relations for Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., said the company closed down its plant near Holcomb today so employees could participate in the rally.

Mickelson said he could not speculate on how any Congressional action regarding immigration law might impact Tyson, but "we are in support of some kind of change with the current laws." He would not comment on specific changes the company would like to see.

Calls to the Beef Products Inc. plants in Holcomb regarding how its operations might be impacted by the rally were referred to the company's corporate headquarters in Dakota Dunes, S.D. Media relations officials there could not be reached for comment by press time.

While Tyson closed it's doors so employees could attend the rally, other businesses did not seem to feel the impact of the event.

Steve Gleason, manager at the Kearny County Feeders, where more than half of his employees are Hispanic, said his employees showed up for work this morning as usual. He said he had heard about the immigration issue, but didn't anticipate difficulty with his work force.

Brookover Feed Yard manager Brian Price said 80 percent of its workforce, including many of its managers, are Hispanic, and they all showed up except for those who had a scheduled day off.

"We're quite proud of our Hispanic workers. We have several who have been with us for a long time. They are hard working and good people," Price said. --------------------

It would be safe to assume that I'm done with Tyson products for a while.